Chess Puzzle #DOpqN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1412 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks a8/e6; bishop c8; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e6→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e4→e8).
  3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/p1p2ppp/2p1r3/8/4B3/2P1BPq1/PP6/R2Q1R1K b - - 7 20

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.